Sewing appliance



De c. '17, 1946.

F. S. KRALOVIC I SEWING APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 2 1946 INVEN TOR. 615mm 5 Ainzowc Patented Dec. 17, 1946 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE SEWING APPLIANCE Frank s. Kralovic, fauna, oiiie Application January 26, 1946, Serial No; 643,637

8 claims;

My invention pertains to a portable,- domestic handicraft appliance, exemplifiedly, to a sewing (darning or cross-stitching) stand.

Long experience in the metal manufacturing business has brought me knowledge of earlier adjustable pedestals, foot rest-stabilized supports and that surmounted trays are also old. However, while my appliance comprises several structural features, each by itself old, it also advantageously correlates the function of one novel feature, an arm, optionally padded on its lower. side, forclamping a work piece (textile fabric and/or its spanning frame) against the top of the users knee-directly with an old (ad justment) feature and. indirectly with another old (foot-rest) feature whereby to achieve a new and useful, indeed, improving combination.

The discoverable prior patented art, as portrayed, for instance,- by domestic patents, No. 152,883 of 1874 to Tunis; No. 756,723 of 1904 to Skoog; No; 1 58118], of 1926 to Pomeroy et a1. and No. 2,097,000 of 1937 to Smootis believed to beinadequately anticipatory, even collectively,- because the substitution of a feature or features of any one to another would not achieve my organization of parts nor becapable ofexercisingthe desirable function of facility of application to suit the varying measurements from the top of the knee to the sole of the foot of different users. Thereby is declared the primary object of my origination, besides its purpose of clamping against the human knee top while mindful of simplicity and economy of manufacture.

It is to be understood, upon future consideration, that the scope of my invention compre-' hends many equivalent constructions. The showing of the drawing and the specific description are intended merely to evidence one feasible mechanical embodiment and arrangement ofmy invention.

Adverting to the drawing: v

Figure 1 is a side elevation; of my appliance showing the manner of itsuse in association with a lower leg ofa-user,

Figure 2 illustrates: a knock-down arrangement of? the composite parts, showingready interfitting in a minimum of space preparatory to shipping. p

Figure 3 is a top plan view of an adjustably coacting structure which is itself an assembly.

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevation ofthe lower end of my appliance as it appears with the near enclosing wall removed (broken away) and showing, in broken lines, a pedal-actuated displacemerit ofanother movably connected portion.

Figure 5 is a similarly enlarged, foot-entering end view as an elevation of the entire appliance.

Figure 6 is a plan section viewed on line 6-5 of Figure 5. i A base I carries laterally upstanding flanges 2 each of which is provideda short distance above the plate I and somewhat nearer one end with a hole 3 intended for the reception of one of a pair of pivotal connections between the spaced flanges 2 and the lateral edges of a rockable pedal; Each pivotal connection is contrived by provision of a lug suitably carried by one of the flanges 2', projecting downwardly partially acrossthe opening or hole 3 where it is located and terminating as a seriii-dircular lower edge 4 adapted to guide the turning movement of a semi-cylindricalsocket 5 which is formed as a laterally projecting ear projecting through a hole 3, the pair of socket-forming ears 5 being integrally fashioried along opposite lateral edges of-a stepped pedal comprising a depressed heel end 6, a separating shoulder l and a relatively raised toe end 8 A rocking action at the ankle of the user is to be communicated into arocking act-ion of the pedal to cause the ear-sockets to turn with respectto the interfitted lug edges 4. A depression of the heel end 6 overcomes the counter f o'rce exerted by a pair of compression springs 9 interposed between the base plate I and that end of the toe end of the pedal which is adjacent to the shoulder 1. Depending from the free end of the toe section 8 is a stop I0.

The bifurcated lower ends II and I2 of a pedestal are spaced to fit inwardly adjacent to the flanges 2 (the toe end of the pedal, as: clearly shown in Figure 6, being narrowed to permit clearance) where they are detachably secured, as by means of screws I3. About midway of its length,- the pedestal is unified, a rivet 114 being shown at the junction point of the ends H and i2 while the remainder of the upper'endsmay be considered as spot-welded together to form the'unit numbered I5. A tapped hole It, extends' from the upper extremity of the unit l5 and is intended for a screw orwin'gnut lladapted to secure a tray l8 which during the sewing use of my appliance is to serve for holding miscellaneous sewing or mending accessories;

An arm or bracket is vertically adjustable along the unit l5 and has its mainbody formed (as exemplified) of a single strip of metal, including midsections l9 and 20-which are in conforming contact oppositely directed free end flanges 21 and- 2-2 and at the pedestal-attaching end spread apart to form a channel 23 suited to a loose insertion of the unit l and provided with a loop-closing end 24 having a tapped hole for the reception of a set screw, shown as a wingnut 25. The construction just described is most clearly illustrated in Figure 3, and it is to be understood that the sections l9 and and the free ends 2| and 22 are securely aflixed to each other in pairs as, for instance, by spot-welding. Manifest will be that depending upon the con: trol provided by the wingnut 25, the arm may, be slid to any desired elevation and there fixed to the pedestal.

slightly downwardly and attached to the lower sides thereof is a strip of felt or other padding 26 with consideration of the intention to have A may be observed upon inspection of Figure 5, the flanges 2| and 22 are curved right member supporting said arm, a floor plate secured to the, lower end of said-member and a pedal reactingly supported onisaid platefor raising the lower leg of the user toward said arm.

4. In combination, an arm having a free end adapted to contact the knee-top of the user, an

- upright member adjustably supporting the other end of saidarm, a floor plate detachablysecured effected there a pressure engagement with the V top of the knee of the user of my appliance and preparatory to clamping therebetween a piece of fabric or an apparel article 21. i

The operation or use of my appliance is as follows:

The pedestal is brought into position in front of a seated person intending to employ itand so that, as shown in Figure 1, one foot rests upon the pedal with the heel and sole of a shoe in contact with the sections 5 and 8 respectively, the lower leg being in a substantially upright position. Next, the wingnut is loosened and the khee-top-contactable arm is adjusted to and fixed at a. selectable elevation. The determination of the elevation is thus accomplished. While the heel of the user's shoe temporarily depresses the section 6 against the action of the springs 9, the padded flange unit 21-22 is adjusted so that it slightly clears the knee top, then the material 21, upon which some needle-work is to be performed, is inserted between the knee top and the padding preparatory to foot-pressure release of thepedal. The rising action of, the section 6, as urged by the springs, is permitted to raise the leg and to bring the knee-top into firm yet comfortalble pressure-engagement with the padding while the material 21 is held clamped therebetween against displacements which have hitherto been so troublesome. Meanwhile; such a convenient and advantageous clamping action is effected without expenditure of any muscular energy on the part of the user. The knock-down arrangement shown in Figure 2, to make possible a packaging in an interfitted relationship of the several parts to achieve a maximum of compactness, illustrates how the detached pedestal proper may be laid within the confines of the flanges 2, with the tray l8 and arm 2|22 also deposited therein.

I claim:

1. In combination, a handicraft appliance comprising a base, an upright member detachably connected with said base, an arm detachably connected with said-member, said member and arm being adapted in'disassembledarrangement for deposition along said base for compactness in shipping, and-aspring-controlled pedal reactingly rockable on said base for alternatively urging a users leg upwardly until its knee en'- gages said arm. v

2. The combination in a portable sewing appliance, of a base structure, a pedal rockably connected with said base and fashioned with a relatively raised section forming a heel-front engaging shoulder, a spring normally urging said shoulder upwardly, an upright member connected with said base and an arm adjustably connected with to the lower end of said member, a pedal rockably connected with said plate and a spring connected on one side of said rockable connection axis and adapted to move the near end of said pedal away from said plate whereby to raise the knee of the pedal-operating leg of a user against said arm.

5. In combination, an arm having a free end end of said pedal andsaid base and subject to pedal depression for power storage thereof whereby release of foot pressure is adapted to clamp material being sewn ormended. between the users knee and said arm.

6. In combination, a rigid arm having a free end for contact with the knee-top of auser, an upright member adjustably supporting the other end of said arm, a floor plate attached to the lower end of said member and provided with lateral upstanding flanges, a pedal pivotally mounted on said flanges and a spring fitted between said plate and pedal on one side of its pivot axis, the arrangement limiting the range of rockable movement upon release of spring-overcoming foot pressure upon one end of said pedal after the spring served to raise the users knee toward the free end of said arm for clamping a workpiece therebetween. V v

7. A portable, handicraft appliance comprising the combination of an upright pedestal provided at its upper end with means for detachably supporting a tray and having its lower end formed as a base, a pedal'rockably connected with said base'and carrying a stop adapted to engage said base and a spring connecting said pedal and base and tending to hold said stop against the latter, an arm adjustably connected with, for movement along, said pedestaL the lower side of "said arm being adapted to clamp a work piece against the top of the knee of the users leg which, while resting upon said pedal, is urged upwardly jby the said spring until said stop contacts said'base.

8. A portable manual labor aid comprising the combination of an upright member provided at its upper end with means for supporting a tray for instruments and supplies and having'its lower end formed as a base intended to restupon a floor, an arm adjustably connected with, for movement along, said member and reacting mechanism including a, pedal pivotally connected with said base and adapted to raise the pedaldepressing users leg against said arm.

' 5 FRANK s. KRA ovIc. 

